Trading stamp dispenser



Fr -N 1.

June 21, 1960 J. BEARD 2,941,707

TRADING STAMP DISPENSER Filed July 2, 1959 INVENTOR.

Joa BEAcao ATTO EU EYS 7 2,941,707 Patented June 21, 1960 United StatesPa TRADING STAMP DISPENSER Joe Beard, 7813 N. New Braunfels, SanAntonio, Tex.

Filed July 2, 1959, Ser. No. 824,692

9 Claims. Cl. 225-33 strips, whereby the dispensing can be performedmore quickly and easily by a merchant, with greater satisfaction andconvenience to customers.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact, portable,rugged, and easily operated device of the character indicated above,which is of uncomplex construction, being composed of a small number ofsimple parts, and being capable of being made in attractive andserviceable forms at relatively low cost, of such readily available andsuitable materials as plastics and lightweight metals.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings,wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form of theinvention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of a device of the invention, a roll oftrading stamps being shown in phantom lines in position in the device;

Figure 2 is a enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken on the line22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 3-3 ofFigure 2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts through the several views, the illustrated device, generallydesignated 10, comprises a longitudinally elongated base 12, which has ahorizontal longitudinal trading stamp supporting surface 14, at WhOSerear end is a depressed semi-cylindrical. well 16 for a roll R oftrading stamps. The base 12 is.preferably of inverted channel crosssection, having parallel side walls 18 to and between which a plate ortop wall 20 is fixed, whose upper side provides the supporting surface14. From an intermediate length point to the rear endof the base 12, theside walls 18 have vertical longitudinal extensions 22, which rise abovethe top wall 20.

The well 16 can be a continuation of the top'wall 20 at the rear endthereof.

Extending between and fixed to the side wall extensions 22, at a pointnear to the end of the top wall 20, and at the forward end of the topwall, are similar rear and forward cross bars 24 and 26, respectively,which are spaced upwardly from the surface 14. Also extending betweenand suitably fixed to the side wall extensions is a smooth, preferablyplastic separator plate 28, which extends the length of the side wallextensions 22, between the well 16 and the forward ends of theextensions. The plate 28 is spaced below the undersides of the crossbars 24 and 26 and spaced upwardly from the surface 1.4.

The plate 28 provides between itself and the surface -14 a horizontalslot 30 through which a trading stamp strip 32 is drawn forwardly from aroll R resting in the well 16. The plate 28 also serves as the slidebase for slidably supporting a plurality of cutter slides 34, which aredisposed longitudinally, and in side-by-side positions, beneath thecross bars 24 and 26 and the plate 28, and between the side wallextensions 22.

While the structure described above can be made of any suitablematerials, transparent plastic is preferred, as being light weight,sturdy, non-rusting and non-corrosive, pleasant to the touch, and asproviding desirable transparency afi'ording visual checking oftradingstamps beneath the cutter slides 34. Further, heavy gauge plasticconstruction gives the right weight and handle for use of the device onsuch as a market checking-out counter or the like.

The cutter slides 34 are similar in construction, and five in number foruse with a stamp strip 32 containing five longitudinal rows 36 of stamps38, separated by longitudinal perforations 39, with stamps arranged intransverse rows 40 for five stamps each, separated by transverseperforations 41. Each cutter slide 34 comprises a longitudinallyelongated flat bar 42 of substantial cross section, on whose top sideare fixed rear and forward stop blocks 44 and 46, respectively, whichserve also as handles for sliding the slides 34. The rear block 44 islocated on the slide bar 42 to have stop engagement with the forwardedge of the rear cross bar 24, when in a retracted cutting position ofthe slide; and the forward block 46 is located on the bar 42 to havestop engagement with the rear edge of the forward cross bar 26 in aforward position of the slide 34. The slide bars '42 are longer than thedistance between the rear edge of the rear cross bar 24 and the forwardedge of the forward cross bar, so that a forward end portion 48 of theslide bar 42, slightly longer than a trading stamp, can extend forwardlybeyond the forward cross bar 26 when the forward stop block 46 isengaged with the forward cross bar. The rear block 44 is located on theslide bar 42 so that when it is engaged with the rear cross bar 24, theforward end portion 48 is partially retracted under the forward crossbar 26, as seen in the upper part of Figure 1, so that the forwardcutting edge 50 of the retracted cutter slide is spaced rearwardly fromthe cutting edge 50 of the unretracted slides, at a distance equal tothe length of one stamp.

The cutting edges 50 of the slides 34 are defined by downward bevels 52on the forward ends of the slide bars 42, extending down to theundersurfaoes 54 of the slide bars, and downward bevels 56 on theforward ends of short transversely elongated bearing plates 58,preferably of plastic, suitably secured to the undersurfaces 5 4, andslidably bearing upon the supporting surface, the bevels 52 and 56 beingflush and continuous with each other. The bearings plates 56 are of thesame thickness as the separator plate 28.

In use of the device 10, the stamp strip 32 having been .passedforwardly through the slot 30 so as'to extend forwardly beyond thecutting edges 50 of the slides 34, at

least as far as to put a transverse perforation 41 in line with thecutting edge of a retracted slide 34, as shown in the upper part ofFigure 1, at the side of the device away from the operator thereof, allof the stamps 38 forwardly of the retracted slide, or the single stampin front of the retracted slide, can be torn off the strip 32 by pullingthe same upwardly and along the cutting edges. The slides 34 can beselectively and individually retracted and extended, so as to positiontheir cutting edges 50cm:- rectly for tearing off, in one sheet, anydesired number of stamps 38 from the strip 32, in accordance withjlt hearrangement of stamps existing in the exposed part of the strip 32,resulting from preceding dispensings of stamps. Because the exposed partof the strip 32 lying upon the supporting surface 14 is readily seen byboth merchant andcustomer, both can at once determine the number ofstamps 38 so exposed, both before, and in process of tearing the correctnumber of stamps from the strip 32, so that controversies over thecorrect dispensing of stamps cannot readily arise.

It will be understood that the herein described device is especiallyusuable for dispensing other than trading stamps, from rolls ofsimilarly arranged strips.

Although there has been shown and described herein a preferred form ofthe invention, it is to be understood that the invention is notnecessarily confined thereto, and that any change or changes in thestructure of and in the relaprising slide bars positioned between theseparator plate and the cross bars.

4. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontal supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal separator plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a slot through which astrip can be drawn along 'said surface from a roll in the well, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing indij vidually movable rearwardly to retracted positions and tivearrangements of components thereof are contemplated as being within thescope of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontal supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal separator plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a slot through which astrip can be drawn along said surface from a roll in the well, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing individually movable rearwardly to retracted positions andforwardly to extended positions, means on the base confining said slidesin position in the separator plate,

and cutting edges on the forward ends of the slides.

2. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontal supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal separator plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a. slot through whicha strip can be drawn along said surface from a roll in the wall, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing individually movable rearwardly to retracted positions andforwardly to extended positions, means on the base confining said slidesin position in the separator plate, and cutting edges on the forwardends of the slides, said supporting surface reaching forwardly beyondthe cutting edges of extended slides for supporting an uncut portion ofa stamp strip thereon.

3. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontal supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal sep arator'plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a slot through which astrip can be drawn along said surface from a roll in the well, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing individually movable rearwardly to retracted positions andforwardly to extended positions, means on the base confining said slidesin position in the separator plate, and cutting edges on the forwardends of the slides,.said supporting surface reaching forwardly beyondthe cutting edges of extended slides for supporting an uncut portion ofa stamp strip thereon, said confining means comprising longitudinal sidewall extensions located in the base along the opposite sides of andrising above said separator plate, and longitudinally spaced rear andforward dross bars fixed to and extending between the extensions andspaced above the separator plate, said slides comforwardly to extendedpositions, means on the base confining said slides in position in theseparator plate, and cutting edges on the forward ends of the slides,said supporting surface reaching forwardly beyond the cutting edges ofextended slides for supporting an uncut portion of a stamp stripthereon, said confining means comprising longitudinal side wallextensions located in the base along the opposite sides of and risingabove said separator plate, and longitudinally spaced rear and forwardcross bars fixed to and extending between the extensionsand spaced abovethe separator plate, said slides comprising slide bars positionedbetween the separator plate and the cross bars, said slide bars havinginwardly of the forward ends upstanding rear and forward stop blocksfixed thereon and located between and engageable at times with the crossbars.

5. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontalv supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal separator plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a slot through which astrip can be drawn along said surface from a roll in the well, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing individually movable rearwardly to retracted positions andforwardly to extended positions, means on the base confining said slidesin position in the separator plate, and cutting edges on the forwardends of the slides, said supporting surface reaching forwardly beyondthe cut ting edges of extended slides for supporting an uncut portion ofa stamp strip thereon, said confining means comprising longitudinal sidewall extensions located in the base along the opposite sides of andrising above said separator plate, and longitudinally spaced rear andforward cross bars fixed to and extending between the extensions andspaced above the separator plate, said slides comprising slide barspositioned between the separator plate and the cross bars, said slidebars having inwardly of the forward ends upstanding rear and forwardstop blocks fixed thereon and located between and engageable at timeswith the cross bars, the rear stop blocks being located to have stopengagement with the rear cross bar in retracted positions of the slidesand said forward stop blocks being located in the slide bars to havestop engagement with the forward cross bar in the extended positions ofthe slides, said forward end portions of the slide bars beingproportioned in length to locate the cutting edges of retracted slidesbehind the cutting edges of extended slides at a distance equal to thelength of a stamp of the strip.

6. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontal supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal separator plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a slot through which astrip can be drawn along said surface from a roll in the well, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing individually movable rearwardly to retracted positions andforwardly to extended positions, means on the base confining said slidesin position in the separator plate, and cutting edges on the forwardends of the slides,

said supporting surface reaching forwardly beyond the cutting edges ofextended slides for supporting an uncut portion of a stamp stripthereon, said confining means comprising longitudinal sidewallextensions located in the base along the opposite sides of and risingabove said separator plate, and longitudinally spaced rear and forwardcross bars fixed to and extending between the extensions and spacedabove the separator plate, said slides comprising slide bars positionedbetween the separator plate and the cross bars, said slide bars havinginwardly of the forward ends upstanding rear and forward stop blocksfixed thereon and located between and engageable at times with the crossbars, the rear stop blocks being located to have stop engagement withthe rear cross bar in retracted positions of the slides and said forwardstop blocks being located in the slide bars to have stop engagement withthe forward cross bar in the extended positions of the slides, saidforward end portions of the slide bars being proportioned in length tolocate the cutting edges of retracted slides behind the cutting edges ofextended slides at a distance equal to the length of a stamp of thestrip, said forward end portions having bearing plates afiixed to theirundersides of the same thickness as the separator plate and bearing uponsaid supporting surface.

7. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontal supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal separator plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a slot through which astrip can be drawn along said surface from a roll in the well, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing individually movable rearwardly to re tracted positions andforwardly to extended positions, means on the base confining said slidesin position in the separator plate, and cutting edges on the forwardends of the slides, said supporting surface reaching forwardly beyondthe cutting edges of extended slides for supporting an uncut portion ofa stamp strip thereon, said confining means comprising longitudinal sidewall extensions located in the base along the opposite sides of andrising above said separator plate, and longitudinally spaced rear andforward cross bars fixed to and extending between the extensions andspaced above the separator plate, said slides comprising slide barspositioned between the separator plate and the cross bars, said slidebars having inwardly of the forward ends upstanding rear and forwardstop blocks fixed thereon and located between and engageable at timeswith the cross bars, the rear stop blocks being located to have stopengagement with the rear cross bar in retracted positions of the slidesand said forward stop blocks being located in the slide bars to havestop engagement with the forward cross bar in the extended positions ofthe slides, said forward end portions of the slide bars beingproportioned in length to locate the cutting edges of retracted slidesbehind the cutting edges of extended slides at a distance equal to thelength of a stamp of the strip, said forward end portions having bearingplates afixed to their undersides of the same thickness as the separatorplate and bearing upon said supporting surface, the forward ends of theslide bars and bearing plates being downwardly bevelled to theundersides of the bearing plates todefine said cutting edges.

8. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontal supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal separator plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a slot through which astrip can be drawn along said surface from a roll in the well, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing individually movable rearwardly to retracted positions andforwardly to extended positions, means on the base confining said slidesin position in the separator plate, and cutting edges on the forwardends of the slides, said supporting surface reaching forwardly beyondthe cutting edges of extended slides for supporting an uncut portion ofa stamp strip thereon, said confining means comprising longitudinal sidewall extensions located in the base along the opposite sides of andrising above said separator plate, and longitudinally spaced rear andforward cross bars fixed to and extending between the extensions andspaced above the separator plate, said slides comprising slide barspositioned between the separator plate and the cross bars, said basebeing hollow and comprising spaced side walls having lower edges to restupon a support, and upper edges, said side wall extensions being on theupper edges of the side walls and being spaced at their forward endsfrom the forward end of the supporting surface.

9. A trading stamp dispenser comprising an elongated horizontal basehaving a horizontal supporting surface having rear and forward ends, astamp roll holding well on the base at one end of said surface, ahorizontal separator plate on the base and extending along and spacedabove said surface and with said surface defining a slot through which astrip can be drawn along said surface from a roll in the well, aplurality of longitudinal slides bearing slidably upon said separatorplate, said slides being in side-by-side relation to each other andbeing individually movable rearwardly to retracted positions andforwardly to extended positions, means on the base confining said slidesin position in the separator plate, and cutting edges on the forwardends of the slides, said supporting surface reaching forwardly beyondthe cutting edges of extended slides for supporting an uncut portion ofa stamp strip thereon, said confining means comprising longitudinal sidewall extensions located in the base along the opposite sides of andrising above said separator plate, and longitudinally spaced rear endforward cross bars fixed to and extending between the extensions andspaced above the separator plate, said slides comprising slide barspositioned between the sepa rator plate and the cross bars, said basebeing hollow and comprising spaced side walls having lower edges to restupon a support, and upper edges, said side wall extensions being on theupper edges of the side walls and being spaced at their forward endsfrom the forward end of the supporting surface, said well being asemicylindrical continuation of said top wall at the rear end of thesupporting surface.

No references cited.

